Ink rollers



Dec. 4, 1962 L.. J. TALARlco 3,066,603

INK RoLLERs Filed Feb. 20, 1961 INVENTOR. /hwcf J, Kw4/m60 C WW2@ ATTORNEY.

ilnited States This invention relates generally to ink rollers, and more particularly is directed to fountain ink rollers, that is, ink rollers of the type having an internal reservoir for containing the ink which is delivered to the surface of the roller for transfer to a marking element either directly, or rby way of a metering roller in rolling contact therewith.

In existing fountain ink rollers, the inking surface of the roller is formed by either a cylinder or an axially arranged series of rings of absorbent material, such as felt or the like, through which the ink passes, vby capillary action, from the internal reservoir to the outer inking surface. Such existing ink rollers do not have a dimensionally stable inking surface, since the inking surface formed by the felt or other absorbent material tends to assume a slightly elliptical, or non-circular cross section when the felt or other absorbent material is wet. Further, the inking surface formed by the felt or other absorbent material tends to be compacted by Contact with the marking element or metering roller so that it is necessary to repeatedly adjust the relative positions thereof in order to maintain a substantially constant Contact pressure between the ink roller and either the metering roller or marking element.

The existing ink rollers having an inking surface dened by a cylinder or rings of felt or other absorbent material, as mentioned above, as well as those existing rollers having a rubber inking surface, are not suitable for use Vwith fast drying inks, as the latter tend to harden the inking surface which, in such rollers, has to be maintained in a porous or resilient condition. Further, the existing reservoir or fountain ink rollers having an inking surface of felt or other absorbent material cannot be used with pigmented inks because the pigment separates from the liquid medium during passage of the ink through the felt or other absorbent material.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide fountain ink rollers avoiding the above mentioned disadvantages of the existing ink rollers.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a fountain ink roller having an inking surface which is dimensionally stable and wear resistant under all operating conditions.

Another object is to provide a fountain ink roller which is suitable for use With fast drying inks or pigmented inks.

Still another object is to provide fountain ink rollers having the above mentioned advantageous characteristics, and which are simple in construction and assembly so as to permit the relatively low cost production thereof.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FlG. l is an elevational view of a fountain ink roller embodying the present invention, and intended for use with its axis of rotation extending horizontally;

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the fountain ink roller of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational View of a modified form of element that may be included in the fountain ink roller of FIGS. l and 2; and

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view similar to that of i" attent i 3,066,603 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 ICC FIG. 2, but showing a fountain ink roller constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and which is adapted for mounting with its axis of rotation extending vertically.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that a fountain or reservoir ink roller embodyin y the present invention, and there generally identified by the reference numeral 10, includes a hollow, generally cylindrical body l2 which is rotatable on an aXle or shaft i4. Although the axle 14 defining the axis of rotation of body i2 extends horizontally in the embodiment of the invention being described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fountain ink roller embodying the invention may be provided for rotation about a vertical axis, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

The body l2 of fountain ink roller l0 is shown to include an open ended sleeve or tube 16 rotatable on axle 14 and having an end portion f8 of reduced external diameter to define a radial shoulder 20. The body l2 further includes a circular end wall 22 having a central opening receiving end portion 1S of sleeve i6 and abutting against the shoulder 20 of the latter, and end wall 22 is retained against shoulder 20 yby radially outward swaging of end portion 18, as is apparent in FIG. 2. An axially directed, annular flange 24 extends along the outer periphery of end wall 22 to define a portion of the outer cylindrical surface of body 12. Body l2 of roller l0 is completed by a cylindrical member 26 which, at one end, has an end wall formed with an internally threaded central boss 23 adapted to be screwed onto external threads 30 provided on the end portion of sleeve 16 remote from end portion 13.

Cylindrical member 26 is, with the exception of the boss 28 of its end wall, spaced radially from sleeve 16 and extends axially toward annular flange 24. Further, cylindrical member 26 includes a relatively thick wall portion 32 having an outer diameter substantially equal to that of flange 24, and an end portion 34 of substantially smaller external diameter so that a radially directed annular should 36 is defined between the outer surfaces of wall portion 32 and end portion 34.

ln accordance with the present invention, the fountain ink roller 10 further includes an axially arranged series of relatively thin rings 38 which are dimensioned to extend around end portion 34 of cylindrical member 26 with a radial clearance 40 (FIG. 2) existing between the inner edges of rings 38 and the outer surface of end portion 34. It will be apparent that the axially arranged series of thin rings 38 is adapted to be engaged, at one end, by the free end edge of annular flange 24, and, at the other end, by the radial shoulder 36. Since end wall 22 and flange 24 of body 12 are axially fixed with respect to sleeve lr6, turning of cylindrical member 26 relative to sleeve 16 with which it is threadably engaged will vary the axial distance between shoulder 36 and the endl edge of ange 24, thereby to either increase or decrease the spaces of clearances existing between the confronting radially extending surfaces of the rings 38.

In accordance with the present invention, the thin rings 38 which may, for example, have a thickness of approximately 0.020 inch, are formed of a rigid, impermeable material, for example, metal or a rigid, wear-resistant plastic, such as nylon or the like.

`In the ink roller 10 embodying this invention, end wall 22, ange 2d, cylindrical member 26 and sleeve 16 cooperate to dene a reservoir or fountain 42 in the hollow interior of body 12, which reservoir or fountain is adapted to contain a supply of ink introduced therein through a filling opening 44 formed in end wall 22 and being normally closed by a screw plug 46.

In the fountain ink roller 10, ink from the interior fountain or reservoir 42 passes into the radial clearance i0 between the inner edges of thin rings 3% and the outer surface of end portion 34 of member 26. By suitably adjusting the clearances or gaps existing between the confronting surfaces of the successive rings 3?, a capillary action is obtained in such clearances or gaps so that the ink passes radially outward from clearance 40 to the outer edges of rings 38 which project radially beyond the outer cylindrical surfaces of flange 24 and wall portion 32 to cooperate in defining a cylindrical inking surface. By reason of the small thickness of the rings 355, the ink issuing from between the successive rings 3d tends to cover the outer edges of the latter with a continuous film or coating `which can be transferred either directly, or by way of a metering roller, to a marking element or the like which is to have ink applied thereto.

By suitably adjusting the position of cylindrical member 2d on sleeve i6, as previously described herein, it is possible to vary the sizes of the clearances or gaps existing between the confronting surfaces of rings 35, thereby to control the rate at which ink is supplied from the internal fountain or reservoir d2 to the inking surface defined by the outer peripheral edges of rings 38, so long as the sizes of the gaps or clearances between the rings 3d are not increased to such an extent as to destroy the desired capillary action therein.

Since the rings are formed of metal or other rigid impermeable material, it is apparent that the inhing surface defined by the outer peripheral edge-s of the rings will be dimensionally stable and Wear-resistant under all operating conditions of the fountain ink roller. Further, since the ink does not pass through felt or other absorbent material during its travel from the reservoir 42 to the inl:- ing surface, pigmented inks may be employed in the roller i without the danger of separating the pigments from the liquid medium. The described fountain ink roller liti is further suitable for use with fast drying inks, as the tendency of such inks to harden rapidly will not affect the already rigid inking surface.

in the fountain ink roller l0, the slight difference between the inner diameter' of rings 33 and the outer diameter of end portion 3ft is relied upon to provide the radial clearance dit through which the ink passes from reservoir d2 to the inner peripheries of the gaps or spaces between the adjacent rings. However, in order to ensure that the clearance or space provided between the inner edges of the rings and the outer surface of end portion 34 will be uniform around the entire circumference of the latter, the inner edge of each of the rings 33 may be castellated, or formed with cutouts or notches 43 spaced apart therealong, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the lands 50 between the successive cutouts i8 can seat on the outer surface of end portion 34 to accurately center the rings 38 with respect to the axis of shaft or axle i4, while the notches or cutouts 48 define the clearance 40 for the passage of the ink.

As previously mentioned, a fountain ink roller embodying the present invention may be mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, as in FlG. 4, wherein the fountain ink roller 10a is generally similar to the previously described roller l0 and has its several parts identified by the same reference numerals employed in connection with the description of the corresponding parts of roller 10, but with the letter a appended thereto. When roller 10a is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, the end wail 22a of the roller body 12a is disposed at the top so that the end portion 34a of body member 2da projects axially upward between rings 33a and sleeve ida. Thus, ink can pass directly from the internal reservoir or fountain 42a into the clearance between the inner edges of rings 38a and the outer surface of end portion 34a only so long as the level of the ink is above the edge of end portion 34a. In order to permit use of the ink contained in the lower part of reservoir 42a, that is, the part of the reservoir defined between end portion 34a of member 2da and sleeve i641, fountain ink roller 10a may further include an annular wick member 52 of felt or other absorbent material extending upwardly along the inner surface of end portion 3ft-a and then downwardly between the outer surface of end portion 3ft-tz and the inner edges of the axially arranged series of rings Tat-a.

When a wick member 52 is provided, as shown in PEG. 4, the ink in the lower part of reservoir 42a is fed, by capillary action, through wick member 52 to the inner peripheries of the gaps or spaces between the confronting surfaces of the adjacent rings Stia.

Although the wick member will tend to cause separation of the pigment from the liquid medium if pigmented inks are used in the fountain ink roller 10a, it will ibe apparent that the rolicr lila still has the characterof dimensie-nelly stable inking surface dened by the outer edges of thin rings Further, it is to be noted that ti e wick member 52 is provided in roller 10a only to permit utilization of ink in the part of reservoir disposed below the top edge of end portion 34a which forms the inner support for rings 3&1. Thus, wick member d2, and its attendant restriction against the use of pigmented inks, may be eliminated either by maintaining a supply of ink in reservoir -fiZa at a level above the top edge of end portion 34a, or by forming member Een so that it engages the surface of sleeve ida along the entire length of member 26a, thereby providing an ink reservoir which is entirely above the upper edge of end portion and which opens into the radial clearance between end portion 3ds! and the series of rings 33a at the upper end of such series.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be noted that tl e invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may lbe effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fountain ink roller comprising a rotatable, generally cylindrical body having a hollow interior defining a reservoir for ink, and an axially arranged series of thin rings mounted on said body to define an inking surface at their outer edges and with radial clearance between the inner edges of said rings and said body in communication with said reservoir, said rings being of a material which is impermeable to the ini-1 in said reservoir so that' the ink flows through said clearance and then radially outward between t e confronting faces of said rings to said inking surface, said body including two portions confining said series of rings at the opposite ends thereof and being axially adjustable relative to each other for varying the compaction of said series of rings and thereby controlling the rate of ow of the ink between said confront-V ing faces of the rings.

2. A fountain ink roller comprising a rotatable, generally cylindrical body having a hollow interior defining a reservoir for ink, and an axially arranged series of thin rings mounted on said body to define an inking surface at their outer edges and with radial clearance betweenV the inner edges of said rings and said body in communication with said reservoir, said rings being or a material which is impermeable to the ink in said reservoir so that the ink flows through said clearance and then radially outward between the confronting faces of said rings to said inking surface, said rings further having a thickness of the order of 0.020 inch so that the ink issuing from between the confronting faces of said rings at said inking surface tends to form a continuous ink film on the latter.

3. A fountain ink roller comprising a rotatable, generally cylindrical body having a hollow interior defining a reservoir for ink, said body including an inner sleeve, an end wall fixed on one end of said sleeve and having an axially directed, annular flange extending along its outer periphery, and a member threaded on the other end portion of said sleeve and having a cylindrical wall extending axially toward said flange and formed with an end portion of reduced outer diameter to deline a radial shoulder, and an axially arranged series of thin rings extending around said reduced diameter end portion of the cylindrical wall and being axially confined between said radial shoulder and the edge of said iiange so that turning of said member relative to said sleeve varies the axial distance between said shoulder and said edge and correspondingly varies the compaction of said series of rings, said rings defining an inking surface at their outer edges and having a radial clearance between the inner edges of said rings and said reduced diameter end portion of the cylindrical wall, which radial clearance is in communication with said reservoir, said rings being of a material which is impermeable to the ink in said reservoir so that the ink Hows through said clearance and then radially outward between the confronting faces of said rings to said inking surface at an adjusted rate of flow dependent upon said compaction of the series of rings.

4. A fountain ink roller as in claim 3; wherein said reservoir communicates with said clearance at the free edge of said end portion of the cylindrical wall.

5. A fountain ink roller as in claim 3; wherein said cylindrical wall is spaced radially from said sleeve so that said reservoir is defined between said sleeve and said flange and said cylindrical wall and communicates with said clearance at the edge of said end portion of the cylindrical wall.

6. A fountain ink roller as in claim 5; wherein said roller is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis.

7. A fountain ink roller as in claim 5; wherein said roller is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with said edge of the cylindrical wall being disposed at the top of the latter; and further comprising a Wick member extending from between said cylindrical wall and said sleeve into said clearance, thereby to feed ink to said clearance from the part of said reservoir defined between said cylindrical wall and said sleeve.

8. A fountain ink roller comprising a rotatable, generally cylindrical body having a hollow interior defining a reservoir for ink, an axially arranged series of axially thin, radially rigid rings mounted on said body to define an inking surface at their outer edges and with radial clearance between the inner edges of said rings and said body in communication with said reservoir, said rings being of a material which is impermeable to the ink in said reservoir so that the ink ows through said clearance and then radially outward between the confronting faces of said rings to said inking surface, said body including means confining said series of rings at the opposite ends thereof and being operative to adjustably compact said series of rings for thereby controlling the rate of ow of ink between said confronting faces of the rings to said inking surface.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 829,804 Rogers Aug. 28, 1906 1,180,569 Chisholm Apr. 25, 1916 1,727,978 Huebner Sept. 10, 1929 1,794,896 Hauck Mar. 3, 1931 2,553,592 Kucklinsky May 22, 1951 2,864,310 Nelson Dec. 16, 1958 2,887,952 Gottscho et al May 26, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 60,522 Netherlands Feb. 16, 1948 

